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Installation on new hard disk
Installation on new hard disk
I want install debian on a new hard disk.(non-partitioned) The laptop have both BIOS boot mode and UEFI boot mode. I want use UEFI mode. Should I first,before installation,to format hard disk as GPT (use GParted tool, for example), or Debian installer tool will do this? Please specify an exact steps. Also, about partitioning: I need create 3 primary partitions root(/), swap and /home: what should I choose to make it? Laptop amd64, 4gb RAM.
- Head_on_a_Stick
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
Read the official Debian buster installation guide. Sections 3.5 and 6.3.4 contain information about partitioning, along with Appendix C.
For a UEFI system you will need a FAT-formatted EFI system partition and a GUID partition table is recommended (some UEFI firmware implementations will not allow for UEFI booting from an MS-DOS partition table).
FWIW I prefer to pre-partition using gdisk, here is my layout:
^ That's for a UEFI system with Debian buster, Alpine Linux and OpenBSD installed (Debian & Alpine are installed to subvolumes in the btrfs partition).
For a UEFI system you will need a FAT-formatted EFI system partition and a GUID partition table is recommended (some UEFI firmware implementations will not allow for UEFI booting from an MS-DOS partition table).
FWIW I prefer to pre-partition using gdisk, here is my layout:
Code: Select all
$ sudo parted /dev/nvme0n1 print
Model: SAMSUNG MZVLB256HAHQ-000L7 (nvme)
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 256GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB fat32 EFI System boot, esp
2 538MB 9128MB 8590MB linux-swap(v1) Linux swap
3 9128MB 224GB 215GB btrfs Linux filesystem
4 224GB 256GB 32.2GB freebsd-ufs OpenBSD disklabel
$
deadbang
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
You do not need to partition or format anything before the installation. The Debian installer will create a GPT partition table if booted in EFI mode and the drive does does not have a partition table yet. Guided partitioning will offer to create root+home+swap(+EFI implicitly) and will determine the sizes automatically. If you do not like the automatic partitioning, you can select manual partitioning and define partitions as you like (then do not forget to create an EFI partition as pointed out above by HoaS).
Note that there aren't primary, extended or logical partitions with GPT, just partitions.
Note that there aren't primary, extended or logical partitions with GPT, just partitions.
- Head_on_a_Stick
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
I prefer the netinstall ISO. The live images copy the system to the disk and so are more susceptible to corruption and other problems.
EDIT: but I don't know about the new Calamares installer, I've never tried that.
EDIT: but I don't know about the new Calamares installer, I've never tried that.
deadbang
Re: Installation on new hard disk
netinst images contain no firmware, if happens some proprietary driver, how this is solved?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
I would recommend the Debian Live XFCE .iso. The netinst image is fine if you are experienced, but for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience it can be a little difficult. The one the OP linked is a good choice.
Take my advice, I'm not using it.
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
There is an unofficial netinst image including non-free firmwares, just like other images.syntone wrote:netinst images contain no firmware, if happens some proprietary driver, how this is solved?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
Usually, a computer will work well enough without firmware to allow you to install the firmware after installing Debian. Firmware issues, most commonly, in my experience, are with the video display adapter and the wifi hardware. It is possible to download the firmware before installing Debian, having it ready on a USB drive to install during the Debian installation process. I usually use the netinst image and deal with any missing firmware after I install Debian.syntone wrote:netinst images contain no firmware, if happens some proprietary driver, how this is solved?
Another way is to install using a non-official installation disk with the firmware included. Unofficial non-free images including firmware packages
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
Why do you say that? The only difference between the live images and the netinstall ISO is the tasksel section. I wouldn't say that selecting a desktop environment from a menu list is difficult.sgosnell wrote:The netinst image is fine if you are experienced, but for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience it can be a little difficult.
deadbang
Re: Installation on new hard disk
just got a new hdd. Laptop existing Boot mode is set to Legacy. Below is two options: UEFI OS, UEFI OS. Which from them to select, first or 2nd?
If I decide Guided partitioning, will it show offfered partitions size before start installation? So that I can return to a manual partitioning, if the automatically calculated sizes of partitions don't fit me.
Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition? If I want 8GB swap size, should I specify 8000 MB or 8192 MB?
If I decide Guided partitioning, will it show offfered partitions size before start installation? So that I can return to a manual partitioning, if the automatically calculated sizes of partitions don't fit me.
Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition? If I want 8GB swap size, should I specify 8000 MB or 8192 MB?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
Both selections are the same?syntone wrote:just got a new hdd. Laptop existing Boot mode is set to Legacy. Below is two options: UEFI OS, UEFI OS. Which from them to select, first or 2nd?
Yes, you can go back to manual if you don't like the suggested partitions, before committing.syntone wrote:If I decide Guided partitioning, will it show offfered partitions size before start installation? So that I can return to a manual partitioning, if the automatically calculated sizes of partitions don't fit me.
Guided partitioning will include a swap partition. For an 8GB swap file I use 8192MB, but it is not critical.syntone wrote:Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition? If I want 8GB swap size, should I specify 8000 MB or 8192 MB?
[edit] Changed from swapfile (which is wrong) to swap partition. [/edit]
Last edited by RU55EL on 2020-12-09 22:39, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
Are you sure ? If boot mode is set to legacy only (no UEFI), it should not offer UEFI OS choices.syntone wrote:Laptop existing Boot mode is set to Legacy. Below is two options: UEFI OS, UEFI OS.
Yes, but the installer will not allow to resize the proposed partitions. You will have to delete them and create new ones.syntone wrote:If I decide Guided partitioning, will it show offfered partitions size before start installation? So that I can return to a manual partitioning, if the automatically calculated sizes of partitions don't fit me.
If you select "use whole drive", the installer will create a swap partition with the size of the memory.syntone wrote:Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition?
If you select "use available space", the installer may use an existing swap on the drive with most free space, or create one otherwise.
If you have specific requirements, you should consider manual partitioning.syntone wrote:If I want 8GB swap size, should I specify 8000 MB or 8192 MB?
The installer uses decimal SI prefixes, so M = 10^6, not 2^30 (which would be the binary prefix Mi).
So specify 8 GB if you really want 8 GB (decimal), or 8590 MB if you actually want 8 GiB (binary).
AFAIK, the Debian installer does not allow to create or use a swap file. It only allows to use a block device (whole drive, partition, RAID array, LVM logical volume or encrypted volume) as swap space.RU55EL wrote:Guided partitioning will include a swapfile.
Re: Installation on new hard disk
Laptop existing Boot mode is set to Legacy. Below is two options: UEFI OS, UEFI OS.
Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition?
I temorarily use spare hard drive (ssd). F12 boot option show:p.H wrote:Are you sure ? If boot mode is set to legacy only (no UEFI), it should not offer UEFI OS choices.
Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition?
so what way is better?p.H wrote:If you select "use whole drive", the installer will create a swap partition with the size of the memory.
If you select "use available space", the installer may use an existing swap on the drive with most free space, or create one otherwise.
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Re: Installation on new hard disk
It is not pure legacy mode, it shows both legacy and UEFI boot options.syntone wrote:F12 boot option show:
Neither. I already explained and won't repeat myself.syntone wrote:Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition?
Neither. They have different purposes.syntone wrote:so what way is better?
IMO, manual partitioning is better.
Re: Installation on new hard disk
You are absolutely right!p.H wrote:AFAIK, the Debian installer does not allow to create or use a swap file. It only allows to use a block device (whole drive, partition, RAID array, LVM logical volume or encrypted volume) as swap space.RU55EL wrote:Guided partitioning will include a swapfile.
I meant swap partition. (I've spent too much time with the dreaded Windows operating system.)
Thanks for correcting me,
Re: Installation on new hard disk
My mistake, forget swapfile. Debian guided partitioning will create a swap partition. A swap partition is what you want with Debian. Please accept my apologies for advising you incorrectly.syntone wrote:Will the Debian create it's own swapfile, or I need to create swap partition?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
is it easier to create only efi system partition with GParted, then close GParted, shut down PC, boot from the installation media, and use Debian installer to create the other 3 primary partitions, or first create all partitions use GParted, then just install Debian?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
I would say that it is easier to use Debian guided partitioning. I've used Debian guided partitioning (for UEFI) and later tweaked the partition sizes for /, /home/, and swap. (I always use a separate partition for /home.)syntone wrote:is it easier to create only efi system partition with GParted, then close GParted, shut down PC, boot from the installation media, and use Debian installer to create the other 3 primary partitions, or first create all partitions use GParted, then just install Debian?
Re: Installation on new hard disk
is it ok to create /boot partition at the first?
/boot ext4 500Mb
/boot/efi esp (fat32) 250Mb
/boot ext4 500Mb
/boot/efi esp (fat32) 250Mb